Musselburgh
XXXX
Mortonhall
A beautifully rumpled parkland, bursting with colour and variety.
This is an old club – dating to the 1890s – and the maturity of the
setting is captivating with views stretching across Edinburgh, the
Firth of Forth and the Pentland Hills. The thrills come from several
steep rocky hillocks, where holes are encased in blazing gorse. Trees
and water add extra appeal as well as additional danger, and then
there are the tight doglegs. The wayward golfer can be punished
severely but the elevation changes make it clear what is required of
you. This is a perfectly balanced par 72 and Mortonhall is playable 52
weeks a year. The par four 2nd is known as ‘Moorfoot’ and it is Index
1: the high tee shows off the course and the views.
Musselburgh
Musselburgh opened in 1938 and was laid out over open parkland
by James Braid. That openness has long since gone as planting
programmes now present a course with strong tree-lined avenues
and dense, intimidating backdrops. For the most part the trees stay
well back, presenting generous fairways which call for a strong day
with the driver – many of the par fours are around the 400 yard
mark. Modest sized greens are often angled and you will need to be
laser sharp with your approach play, especially with strong, strategic
bunkering. The railway line divides the course, with the holes to the
south offering slightly more elevation changes, but this is never less
than an enjoyable course to walk.
94
Muirfield
Host to 16 Open Championships and revered as one of the greatest
links designs, it is little wonder that Muirfield is seen as such a
desirable golfing destination. Old Tom Morris, Harry Colt and
Tom Simpson all contributed to a masterpiece that works in two
concentric rings. The front nine forms the outer ring and contains
Jack Nicklaus’s favourite par four (the 8th) in the world. The dunes
here are not dramatic but the intricate design has produced
astounding bunkering, a varied mix of holes and a routing that
ensures the wind attacks you from every angle. Muirfield is revered
for the quality of its greens and well known for the requirements
placed on visitors… be sure to read up on the dress code and
etiquette prior to arrival.
North Berwick
On such a famous links it is easy to focus on North Berwick being
the third oldest club in the world… but what matters even more is
the enthralling course you will be playing. This links boasts low stone
walls slipping across holes and in front of greens, bare rock exposed
on a fairway or two, beaches in play and dunes that are low and
rhythmic. The course sits on a slightly elevated site which ensures
your golf is accompanied by wonderful vie ws over the Firth of Forth.
Such a site also means any wind will influence your strategy and,
with the natural swales, all of your skills will be tested. At least the
rough is kept low to speed up play. Deep bunkers, blind shots, quirky
greens and that famous 13th hole all make North Berwick bucket list
stuff.